Mailing folder



Oct. 27, 1942.

V. J. SMITH MAILING FOLDER Filed F95. a, 1941 g gba have been 10 `/Swggesd as" Patented Oct. 27, 1942 UN ITE D f STATES l'Pti-1'l`-lr`ll`l T l CE 'MAILING FOLDER Verona J. Smith, Kew Gardens, N.' Y.

ApplicaticnEebruax-y 8, 1941, SerialNo. 378,012

(Cl. 22B-92.1)

12 Claims.

This inventionrelates to mailing folders, vcirculars and the like andmore particularly to folders adapted for carrying therein a reply envelope and to `be sufficiently kopen for postalinspections, ywhen ,used as .non-rst-class. mail, though it is noted that in some of the broader claims the invention ,is not .limited to envelopecarrying folders nor to folders open for postal inspection.

Objects of' the invention are to providefan improved folder of this kind having a removable reply portion and/or a removable.replyenvelope, each securely heldin place while. the folder is sealed but sufficiently open for postal inspection, and to provide an efficient arrangement for sealing the folder by means of the'postage stamp placed thereon.

Other objects of the invention areto provide an improved folder of this kind in `which the address of the addressee to whom the folderv is sent is'placed on the reply portionnand exposedwhen the folder is folded andsealed. thereby to serve Athe double function of directingthe folder to the addressee and identifying'thefaddressee when hereturns the reply portion.

Additional objects of .the invention areto effect simplicityv and efficiency in: such folders and to provide an extremely simple. folder of this kind Awhich is easy and 'effective in use and Yeconomical in '.circularizationand to manufacture.

Still other objects of the invention will appear as the 'description proceeds; and while herein details of theinvention are.described inithe specification and some .of the claims, the invenu tion as described in the broader claims is not.

limited to these, andv many and various changes may be made without departingfrom the scope of the invention as claimed in the broader claims.

The inventive features for the accomplishment of these and other objects are shown herein in connection with an improved mailing folder which, very briefly stated, comprises a felder sheet provided with transverse fold lines dividing the sheet into upper, middle. and lower'sections, the lower section beingprovided with a transverse slit extending thereacross, .dividing the lower section into a reply portion and a retaining portion, the upper section being dispos- .able upon the lower section when the latter is folded on the middle section, and provided with a. cut-out disposable over and exposing an area of .one of said portions suitable forthe address. A stamp may be adhered on said area and section the upper at an edge of the cut-out to hold the folder sealed, leaving the ends thereof open for postal inspection. The portion carrying said address area maybe the `reply portion and is connected to the sheet by a weakened line, whereby such portion may be detached and returned .in a post-paid reply envelope, which envelope is provided in the folder folded upon itself transverselybetween. the ends Vand placed with the fold in saidy transverse slit of thelower section with ythe end members of the folded' envelope disposed against faces of said lower section,thus securelyholding the Aenvelope in the open-ended sealed folder.

In .the accompanying drawing showing, by way of example, one of manypossible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a front face viewof thefolder in unfolded at condition;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the reply portion folded upon the middle section of the 'folder and the fold of thereply envelope disposed where the slit of the lowersection will be when the retaining portion is also folded against the middle section;

Fig. 3 is a front face view of the folder closed ready for mailing; and

Fig. 4 shows a section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

My improved mailing folder comprises a single vertically .elongated substantially rectangular folder sheet of paper (Fig. 1), cardboard `or the like provided with transverse fold lines `IB dividing the sheetinto. upper and middle sections II, I2 of substantially equal vertical width and a lower section I4, I5 of slightly less width. The lower section I4, I5 is adapted to fold inwardly over the middle section I2 and is provided with a transverse slit I6 extending entirely across the lower section near and parallel to one end edge `I`I thereof .and-the side edge of said folder sheet,

y.dividing` the lower.. section .into a rectangular main: reply.` portion Iii, and a smaller vretaining portion I5.

Theuppersection I I.. is .disposable flat upon the lower. section al; .I5 whenthe latter is fiat folded Vsection at .the inner end edge of the cut-out IS f-arezadaptedxto be sealed together by a stamp 22 -adhered over said3parts 923,2 thus tcisecuro Vthe folded folder. closed, as in Figs. 3 and 4. While leaving the ends 24, 25 of the folder closer unsecured for postal inspections. Other suitable sealing means may be used and the stamp placed elsewhere, if desired.

'I'he inner or front faces of said upper and middle sections H, |2provide a suitable space for a letter or advertising material 25.

The main reply portion I4 is connected to the sheet by a perforated or weakened line 21, whereby the reply portion may be detached. All parts of the reply portion away from said address area I9 are suitable to receive thereon a repl'y to said letter or to have thereon a printed order blank, questionnaire or other matter 29 with blank spaces to be lled out.

A post-paid business reply envelope 3i) of a size adapted to receive said reply portion I4 may be folded upon itself transversely between its ends and placed with the fold 3i in said transverse slit lo and its end members 32, 33 folded against the respective faces of the reply portion, when the folder is secured closed, thus holding the envelope against removal, while leavingr the envelope and inner faces of the folder in position for postal inspection. It is not necessary that the envelope be folded as it has been found that if the unfolded envelope is laid in the slit l with the end portions of the envelope against opposite faces of the portions Hl, l5, the envelope will be held in place.

The outer face of the upper section is exposed when the folder is closed, as in Fig. 3, and is suitable for receiving a return address 35 and advertising matter. Both faces of the retaining portion are suitable for receiving display or other advertising matter 36, 3l as is also the back face 38 (Fig. 4) of the middle portion.

When the prospect or other recipient receives the sealed folder, it is easy to break the stamp seal, fold out the sections, release the envelope, and expose all matter for reading. Then the reply pcrtion can be lled out if of a nature to require it, detached along the weakened line, placed in the prepaid envelope and mailed, all with a minimum of exertion, as it is not necessary even to sign the reply card, as the address already thereon is sufficient.

While the drawing shows a single sheet as in v Fig. 1, rather than a doubled or multi-folded sheet folded along an edge, for instance a side edge, or edges, it is understood that the invention is not thus limited, as it is obvious that it is no-t necessary that sheet as in Fig. 1 should be only a single thickness.` A multi-folded sheet would provide much more advertising or letter space,

and is within the scope of the claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. A folder comprising a sheet provided with fold lines dividing the sheet into end and middle sections; one end section being adapted to fold inwardly over the middle section and provided with a slit substantially parallel to one end edge of the section and dividing such section into two portions; the other end section being disposable upon the slit section when the latter is folded on the middle section, and adapted to hide the slit and provided with a cut-out exposing an addressreceiving area of one of said portions; parts of the middle and cut-out sections being adapted to be secured together by a stamp adhered over an edge of the cut-out; the area-bearing portion being connected to the sheet by a weakened line; whereby the main portion may be detached; said folder being adapted to receive an envelope having a part between its ends placed in said transverse slit with the ends of the envelope against the respective faces of the slit portion.

2. A mailing folder comprising a folder sheet provided with transverse fold lines dividing the sheet into upper, middle and lower sections; the lower section being provided with a transverse slit extending thereacross, dividing the lower section into two portions; the upper section being disposable upon the lower section when the latter is folded on the middle section, and provided with a cut-out disposable over and exposing an area of one of said portions for an address; an envelope folded upon itself transversely between the ends and placed with the fold in said transverse slit and the end members of the folded envelope against opposite faces of said lower section.

3. In combination, a sheet provided with fold lines dividing the sheet into end and middle sections; one end section being adapted to fold inwardly over the middle section and provided with a slit substantially parallel to one end edge of the section and dividing such section into two portions; the other end section being disposable upon the slit section when the latter is folded on the middle section, and adapted to hide the slit and provided with a cut-out exposing an address-receiving area of one of the portions; the area-bearing portion being connected to the sheet by a weakened line; whereby the main portion may be detached; said folder being adapted to receive an envelope having la part between its ends and placed in said transverse slit and the ends of the envelope against the respective opposite faces of the slit section.

4. A mailing folder comprising a folder sheet provided with transverse fold lines dividing the sheet into upper, middle and lower sections; the lower section being adapted to fold inwardly over the middle section and provided with a transverse slit extending entirely across the lower section substantially parallel to one end edge thereof, dividing the lower section into a main portion, and a retaining portion; the upper section being disposable flat upon the lower section when the latter is flat folded on the middle section, and provided with an elongated cut-out disposable over and exposing a lower outer corner area of the main portion of the flat folded lower section suitable for an address; portions of said main portion and the upper section at the inner end edge of the cut-out being adapted to be secured together by a stamp adhered over said end edge and to said upper section and main portion while leaving the ends of the sections unsecured for postal inspection; said main portion reply being connected to the sheet by a perforated or weakened line, whereby the main portion may be detached; said folder then folded being adapted to receive an envelope folded upon itself transversely between the ends and placed with the fold in said transverse slit and the end members of the folded envelope against the respective faces of the main portion.

5. A mailing folder comprising a single vertically elongated substantially rectangular folder sheet of paper, cardboard or the like provided with transverse fold lines dividing the sheet into upper and middle sections of substantially equal vertical Width and a lower section of slightly less width; the lower section being adapted to fold inwardly over the middle section and provided with a transverse cut extending entirely across the lower section near and parallel to one end edge thereof and the side edge of said folder sheet and dividing the lower section into a rectangular main reply portion, and a smaller retaining portion; the upper section being disposable flat upon the lower section when the latter is flat folded on the middle section, and provided with an elongated cut-out disposable over and exposing a lower outer corner address area of the main portion of the flat folded lower section suitable for the address of a prospect; portions of main portion and the upper section at the inner end edge of the cut-out being adapted to be sealed together by a stamp adhered over said end edge and to said upper section and main portion thus to secure the folded folder closed while leaving the ends of the folded closer unsecured for postal inspections; the inner or front face of said upper and middle sections providing suitable space for a letter to a prospect.

6. A folder as in claim 5, said main portion reply being connected to the sheet by a perforated or weakened line, whereby the reply portion may be detached; the main portion outside of said address being suitable to receive a reply from the prospect or to receive thereon a printed questionnaire with blank spaces for a prospect to fill out; a business reply envelope of a size adapted to receive said reply portion folded upon itself transversely between the ends and placed with the fold in said transverse cut and the end members of the folded envelope against the respective faces of the reply portion when the folder is secured closed, thus holding the envelope against removal, while leaving the envelope and inner face of the folder in position for postal inspection; the outer face of the upper section being exposed when the folder is closed and being suitable for receiving a return address and advertising matter; both faces of the retaining portion being suitable for receiving advertising matter.

7. A folder comprising a sheet provided with fold lines dividing the sheet into end and middle sections; one end section being adapted to fold inwardly over the middle section and provided with a slit substantially parallel to one end edge of the section and dividing such section into two portions; the other end section being disposable upon the slit section when the latter is folded on the middle section, and adapted to vhide the slit; parts of the middle and second mentioned end sections being adapted to be secured together by a stamp adhered thereto; said folder being adapted to receive an envelope having a part between its ends placed in said transverse slit with the ends of the envelope against the respective faces of the slit portion.

8. In combination, a sheet provided with fold line dividing the sheet into upper, middle and lower sections, the lower section having an end edge inwardly offset from the adjacent middle portion end edge and upwardly folded over said middle portion; and an envelope transversely folded over said lower section edge; said upper section being folded downwardly over said lower section and part of said envelope.

9. A combination as in claim 8, the fold line between the middle and lower section being a weakening line so that the latter section may be detached. I

10. A folder comprising a sheet provided with fold lines dividing the sheet into end and middle sections; one end section being adapted to fold inwardly over the middle section and provided with a slit substantially parallel to one end edge of the section and dividing such section into two portions; the other end section being disposable fiat upon the slit section when the latter is in a single plane and disposed fiat on the middle section, and adapted when the sections are` thus disposed to completely hide the slit and the major part of both of said portions; said folder being adapted to receive an envelope having a part between its ends placed in said transverse slit with the ends of the envelope disposed against the respective opposite faces of the slit section.

l1. A folder as in claim l0, one of said two portions being the larger portion and connected to the sheet by a weakened line, whereby the larger portion may be detached.

l2. A folder comprising a sheet provided with fold lines dividing the sheet into two end sections and a middle section of substantially the same width and same length; one end section being folded inwardly over the middle section and provided with a slit substantially parallel to one end edge of the section and dividing such section into two portions; the slit section being folded on the middle section; the other end section being disposed upon the slit section and hiding the slit, said folder having therein an envelope having a part between its ends placed in said transverse slit with the ends of the envelope disposed against the respective faces of the slit section.

VERONA J. SMITH, 

